Ben Folds Five, 1999

To kick off MySpace’s new concert series called “Front to Back,” Ben Folds Five recently reunited to play a concert in Chapel Hill, NC, where the band got its start in the 90’s.

The band performed, front to back, their album “The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner.” It’s a brilliant album (though it was underappreciated by many when it was released in 1999).

You can watch the entire show — which is AMAZING! — on MySpace.

The show includes interviews with each band member, musicians (such as Ben Lee) who were influenced by the band, and others.

Last night I watched the entire show TWICE, and sang all the lyrics and played air piano on a pillow. I was sweating. I’m surprised my neighbors didn’t come over to join me (or, more realistically, have me arrested).

Enjoy!

Listen to Ben’s new album, Way to Normal, on his MySpace page.

On the music player, select the Way to Normal playlist.

I love the follow-your-heart story of up-and-coming singer-songwriter Meiko.

She grew up in a very small town in Georgia, and her dad taught her how to play guitar. After high school, she moved to Miami Beach to live with her sister; shortly after that she and her sister moved to Los Angeles, where Meiko began playing free concerts at the famous Hotel Cafe.

If you watch the mini concert below (which was recorded in a radio studio), you’ll hear the rest of Meiko’s story … and some really beautiful, smart, touching and catchy songs.

If I’m not careful, my blog may turn into a Ben Folds fan blog. In the funny, touching and theatrical video below, Ben sings a song called “Cologne,” which is on his upcoming album.

The song is heartbreaking and beautiful. Ben recently went through a divorce, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this song is about the tension, tugging and longing Ben felt as his marriage was falling apart.

By the way, the intro to this video is b-r-i-l-l-i-a-n-t.

Cologne
Cologne

Ben Folds is my favorite musician, and I’m giddy as a schoolboy that his new album, Way to Normal, is coming out at the end of September.

Meanwhile, on Ben’s MySpace Page, you can listen to three new songs: “You Don’t Know Me,” “Hiroshima” and “Bitch Went Nutz.”

On “You Don’t Know Me,” the very talented Regina Spektor sings background vocals. (J-Moe, are you tingling inside?!)

A few months ago, Ben (a North Carolina native) was interviewed by North Carolina Public Radio about his new album and more. Listen here.

Update:  Check out the Rolling Stone interview with Ben about his upcoming album.  Apparently this summer Ben leaked some fake songs, as a gag.  In the interview, he compares the fake songs to the real songs (i.e., the songs that’ll actually be on the new album).  He’s such a playful smart-ass … I love it!

Yahoo! and Nissan have put together an amazingly intimate concert series, Nissan Live Sets, which you can watch online.

The concert series features big-name artists (view a list) from a variety of genres. I listened to the entire Alanis Morrissette concert and Weezer concert, and part of the Counting Crows concert. Awesome!

If you want to witness and experience something extremely unique, check out the Weezer concert. Weezer invited 250 fans to be part of the band for the entire concert — that’s right, 250 fans played instruments or sang along throughout the entire concert … it was remarkable!

What makes these concerts so intimate? For one, it’s a very small venue that was built specifically for this concert series. Yahoo!/Nissan want me to experience these concerts as if they’re taking place in my living room. Also, each concert includes one or two Q&A sessions with the artist — during the concert, audience members stand up and ask the artist questions. It’s great! Enjoy!

To give you a taste of the nutty and spectacular Weezer concert, here’s Weezer (and 250 fans!) performing “Island In the Sun.”

Here are some artists worth checking out.

+ M. Ward - My friend Hammy thinks M. Ward is a musical genius. So this week I started listening to his stuff and I really, really like it. Thanks to the fabulous NPR music site, you can listen to several full-length songs, an interview and more.

+ She & Him - M. Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel teamed up and cranked out some great songs and a unique sound. I’m calling it old time urban folk music (maybe it’s simply Americana). If you want to dive in deeper, don’t miss the recent Fresh Air interview with Deschanel. (Thanks, Hammy, for the tip on this one, too!)

+ Melody Gardot - Today my friend J-Moe introduced me to up-and-coming artist Melody Gardot, who wrote some of her songs from her hospital bed, when she was recovering from a horrific car accident. Her music is smokey, sultry, jazzy … and good!  Don’t miss the recent NPR interview with Gardot.

The new NPR Music site is an amazing place to discover new music! Actually, allow me to use more superlatives. This site is: whiz-whirling, hair-twirling, teeth-tingling, heart-bumpin’ spectacular!

Why? Among other things, you can listen to full concerts of great bands (live concerts and archived concerts), full-length songs from upcoming albums, outstanding interviews with artists. For example, check out recent concerts by R.E.M. and My Morning Jacket. Or, tomorrow night, check out Nada Surf’s concert live from the 9:30 Club in D.C. You see what I’m talking about here?!

I’m just scratching the surface — there are many areas of the site I haven’t even mentioned! But I’ve got to mention the Project Song section. For Project Song, NPR invites a musician to come into the studio and create a song from scratch in 48 hours. On the Project Song area of the site, you can view videos of musicians creating songs in the studio and then you can listen to the songs they created! It’s outstanding! Check out Nellie McKay creating the song “Cavendish,” or just watch her perform the song.

I could spend the rest of my life on this site (unfortunately I’ve got work to do, or rather breakfast to eat). A quick shout out to Randy for introducing me to this site. ENJOY!

Here are some ladies worth checking out. I linked to their MySpace pages so you can listen to a few of their songs.

+ Ingrid Michaelson - I saw her perform recently as part of the Hotel Cafe Tour, and she stole the show! She’s funny, smart, vulnerable, engaging and really talented! At this point she’s probably best known for her song “The Way I Am,” which is getting radio play.

+ Yael Naim - This French girl has her own sweet, delicate sound. Here in the States she’s probably best known for her song “New Soul,” which is featured on the Macbook Air commercial. On her recently released album, she sings in English and Hebrew (yep, Hebrew).

+ Laura Gibson - If you want melancholy, check out this Portland, Oregon-based crooner. Her songs are stark, simple, deep (and sometimes dark). Even though it’s now spring, don’t miss the song, “Wintering.”

+ Kate Walsh - She has a very sweet, warm sound. Her sound isn’t as distinct as the others in this list, but very enjoyable.

+ SoKo - Based in Paris, SoKo definitely has a distinct sound. I love her writing … very funny, honest and poetic. She’s a great storyteller and conjures some great images. Don’t miss “I Will Never Love You More.” (A shout out to Gena for introducing me to SoKo.)

+ MUSIC: On the website of The Hotel Cafe Tour (a tour featuring some top and up-and-coming singer-songwriters, such as Dan Wilson, Joshua Radin, Sara Bareilles and Bob Schneider), you can listen to some of the best songs from the touring musicians. The songs blew me away! Light a candle, pour a glass of wine, float around your living room, enjoy.

+ AUDIO INTERVIEW: Back in December, Krista Tippet, the host of radio program Speaking of Faith, interviewed Jean Vanier, who’s now in his 70’s. Vanier founded a community centered around people with mental disabilities, L’Arche, that has now become a global movement. L’Arche communities embody the ideal of power in smallness, strength in weakness and light in the darkness of human existence. (If you’re familiar with Henri Nouwen, you may know that Nouwen spent the last years of his life living in a L’Arche community in Toronto.)

In the interview, entitled “The Wisdom of Tenderness,” Vanier spoke about his understanding of humanity and God.

Our house church recently listened to the interview and we were on the edge of our seats. The interview energized and softened us! Afterward we had a great time sharing with each other the many things from the interview that struck us and touched us.